In Massachusetts on Monday, the legislature by 105 to 92 vote approved a state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage and create same-sex civil unions instead. Immediately after the vote Gov. Mitt Romney asked the state’s highest court to issue a stay on its ruling that ordered the state to allow same sex couples to marry beginning May 17. Romney asked that the stay bar same-sex couples from marrying until after the proposed constitutional amendment could go before the voters. If it approved by voters, the state’s constitution banning gay marriage would go into effect in November 2006.

Meanwhile in New Mexico, the judge who issued a court order barring a county clerk from issuing same-sex marriage licenses recused himself from the case Monday, possibly clearing the way for more permits to be granted.